Wow! it is really strange to think that it is already 2015 and that this time last year we were all finding out about being accepted into the young ambassadors and that we would be going to France. This opportunity was the absolute highlight of my 2014 and has given me some incredible memories and friends. Before we left I was nervous that the trip would be difficult with clashing personalities and being in each others company 24/7. I really needn't have worried, this trip and the programme has...
- culture
- new zealand
- project
- language
- france
- kiwi
- french
- francais
- intercultural
- international
- people
- ww1
- learning
- discovery
- feelings
- war
- soldiers
- courage
- remember
- remembrance
- commemorate
- history
- ambassador
- participate
- collaborate
- think
- compare
- story
- personal
- share
- trip
- visit
- museum
- exchange
- Final Goodbye
Quand j’ai commencé mes études de français au début du collège, je ne m’attendais pas à ce que je sois sur les champs Elysées pour le quatorze juillet, cent ans après le commencement de la première guerre mondiale. Mais c’est devenu une réalité pour moi en deux mille quatorze.
The Young Ambassadors Shared Histories Tour defined my 2014. It took me to the backstreets of Paris, the Eiffel tower, a tiny apartment in Montmartre, Caterpillar Valley, Arras, Le Quesnoy and the Menin Gate with people...
2014 was a whirlwind of a year for many reasons, but none so significant as being part of the Shared Histories project as a Young Ambassador. This role took me to many places both literally and metaphorically that I never dreamed I would be able to experience in my last year of high school. Though the experience of being in France and Belgium is now over, the memories we made and things we learnt will last forever.
I had always considered myself to be relatively knowledgable about WWI and...
Bonne Année!
What a year 2014 was. It marked the end of an era being my final year of school. I finished on a high, with the Young Ambassadors Trip certainly being one of the highlights of my 13 years at school.
Looking back on the trip there are two main things I can take away from it, that will benefit me for the rest of my life.
The people:
Who would have thought a group of 11 teenagers from around the country who had never met before, would get along so well? I certainly...
Where has the time gone? It’s hard to believe that about this time last year we had only just found out that we were Young Ambassadors, but in this short space of time so much has happened! I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity - I’ve learnt so much and I’ve met so many awesome people along the way. Not only has this experience improved my French and knowledge of WW1, it has definitely made me more eager to see the world and discover more of its history.
Throughout the year I’ve been...
Over the past year I have been very privileged to be apart of the Shared Histories Project, it has opened my eyes to an area I had never thought too much about. World War One has effected the lives of many, never did I think it would play a major part in my life- allowing me to travel to France and Belgium and meeting so many new people. I have learnt a lot about my culture and what they did during the war.
They were the trench diggers and road maintenance but never on the front line as their...
Thursday the 4th of December saw me get the opportunity to visit two classes at Saint Mary's College in Wellington. I presented an overview of our trip earlier in the year and explained Shared Histories mission and projects. During the time I got asked many great questions by the year 9 and year 10 classes and saw a real engagement with the topic.
It was an absolute pleasure getting to talk to them and i hope to be able to talk to other schools if I get the chance.
photo of me and the...
The 11th of November marks the anniversary of Armistice day, the day the Great War ended. After a horrific 4 years (1914-1918) of war it finally came to a halt when Germany and the Allied Powers signed an armistice. During our trip to France we had the privilege to visit Compienge, the place the Armistice was signed. We visited many war museums, at one I was grateful to meet Siham and Nicolas, teachers of College Jean Fernel, Stratford High School’s partner school in the Shared Histories...
Limehills School Visit:
On the 21st of October I took a trip back to my old primary school (Limehills School), to talk to the Year 7 and 8 classes about my trip to France and my journey as a Young Ambassador. It was awesome to talk to these kids as a number of them have previously done some study on The Unknown Warrior and are going on a school camp to Wellington later this month. I had lots of fun hanging out with them and answering all their questions, and I look forward to hearing about their...
A couple of weeks ago on the 17th of October I had the privilege of being invited to the Battle of Passchendaele 97th Anniversary Ceremony, by the Passchendaele Society. It was a very large event held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and was attended by various dignitaries from a Belgian Ambassador to Trelise Cooper. There was a heavenly performance from the Auckland City Choir (video here - apologies for the bad quality!) and some very moving speeches and poetry readings
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When the...
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I recently came across this WWI online exhibition on the Auckland Libraries website (which also takes physical form at the Central City library) which was very informative and interesting. Of special interest to me were, of course, documents and other ephemera related to women.
This British poster from from 1917 targets women to encourage their husbands, sons and brothers to fight by reinforcing the idea that men are not worthy unless they are willing to fight for their country.
...
Un discours sur le sujet du voyage de YA Tour
Written by Ailish Wallace-BucklandBonjour tout le monde. j'ai eu la chance à faire un discours à mon classe sur le sujet du voyage de Jeunes Ambassadeurs, et voila un vidéo de mon discours pour vous.
If reading through blog posts isn't your thing, then here is a video of my Young Ambassadors Tour speech that I was able to use for my English internal that give a day-to-day account of what we did on the trip back in July.
Salut,
Today I began my string of school visits speaking to two Year 12 History classes from Baradene College about the Shared Histories project and our trip. It was great to talk to them especially since they have already done great work with the project and will have the opportunity to travel to France next year on what will be an amazing trip.
I am heading towards exams now but I am looking forward to talking to other schools from around Auckland in the coming months. It was great to...
2014 marks the 150th birthday of New Zealand's oldest Army regiment, Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifle.
To mark this milestone, the regiment which is based at Linton, paraded around The Square in Palmerston North on Saturday.
Soldiers, riflemen on horseback and small tanks were all part of this spectacle which attracted many people from around the Manawatu, even on a day which was very drizzly and breezy! Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae inspected the horses.
The QAMR served in both World...
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